The Republic of Ireland’s seafood industry contributes about €1 billion annually to its national income and employs up to 11,000 people. In this issue, we talk to Dr. Susan Steele, Chair of the board of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) about the challenges facing the industry.
The Republic of Ireland has an excellent reputation for the high quality of its seafood products, according to Dr. Susan Steele of the SFPA. The latest gures show that seafood exports are now worth €564 million. Domestic consumption is up 6% and countries as far afield as Nigeria, China, Cameroon and Ghana are the main export markets.
Maintaining that reputation and ensuring that the ROI fishing industry has a strong future are among the responsibilities of Susan’s organisation.
Susan comes from Castletownbere on the beautiful Beara Penninsula in West Cork. She was just three years old when she decided to become a marine biologist and the sea has been her passion ever since. Along with her role at the SFPA, she sits on the Wildlife Committee of the Heritage Council.
The thriving seafood industry in the ROI has won fans throughout the world. Nigeria is the top export market, accounting for a staggering 46% of exports. Mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting, herring, whelk and crab are the preferred products with the latter three showing good growth.
From a food safety point of view the main challenge, according to Susan, is traceability and documentation. “We urge all consumers and food businesses alike to only purchase from reputable suppliers. For example, food businesses have a legal obligation to source all mussels and live bivalve molluscs from reputable suppliers and with the necessary traceability and documentation only,” she says.
The main challenges facing the SFPA, particularly in the summer months are un-registered and recreational fishermen, especially with the new limits for lobster and crab shing. “Regulations are in place regarding the minimum size that can
be harvested to ensure these species can reach maturity and reproduce to provide future stocks,” she points out. The solution to the problem has been increased SFPA inshore patrols with more than 140 of these patrols having taken place since June this year.
The SFPA is also involved in a range of research projects. Susan points to the Sanitary Surveys, an essential first step
towards establishing a microbiological monitoring programme and which provide valuable information on the landscape surrounding classified production areas.
Advances in technology and production as well as new EU regulations are leading to changes in the fishing industry in practice in ROI. To that end, the SFPA are holding a series of Information Breakfasts which include representatives from organisations including the ROI Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; The Air Corps; Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and the Marine Institute. These events are free to attend and a one-stop opportunity for fishermen, processors and producers to learn more about these changes and have their queries answered by experts.
Information Breakfast takes place on 11th October from 8am to 12pm at the Maritime Hotel, Bantry, County Cork.
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